Food costs
How to Cost Drinks and Calculate Pour Cost
Drinks are costed like recipes. Measure the pour, cost the ingredients, and compare to price.
By ChefMind AI Team · · 5 min read
Drinks follow the same logic as food: cost the ingredients, then compare to the price. Numbers here are illustrative.
The formula
Pour cost % = drink cost / selling price x 100
Cost the pour
Bottle cost divided by the number of pours gives cost per pour. Example: a $30 bottle with 17 usable 1.5 oz pours costs about $1.76 per pour.
Build a cocktail cost
Add every ingredient: spirit, mixers, juice, syrup, garnish, ice and glassware if relevant. Include small items.
Example
- Spirit 2 oz: $3.50
- Juice and syrup: $0.60
- Garnish: $0.25
- Total: $4.35
- Price: $15.00
- Pour cost: 4.35 / 15 = 29%
Control variation
Use jiggers, record spillage and breakage, and count bar inventory regularly. See weekly counts.
Price on purpose
See how to price a menu item; the same thinking applies to drinks.
The short version
- Cost every ingredient and pour.
- Measure pours.
- Count bar inventory.
Frequently asked questions
What is pour cost?
The cost of a drink divided by its selling price, shown as a percentage.
Why does measured pouring matter?
Free pouring varies by person. Measured pours make cost predictable.
Keep reading
For owners
How to Price a Menu Item From Ingredient Cost
Start with what the plate costs, apply a target food cost percentage, then test the price against what guests will pay and what the dish earns in dollars.
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